The following takes place between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM

Last night was the first night in the two night season premiere of 24. This season (DAY SEVEN!), CTU has been shut down, Jack is under investigation from Congress about everything he has done in the name of fighting terrorism. Jack gets grilled from by a Senator who will probably end up being a terrorist sympathizer, and refuses to apologize for what he has done in the name of protecting the country from terror. This is because the word "sorry" does not belong in Jack Bauer's dictionary. If you type sorry on a Word document on Jack Bauer's computer, that red squiggly line appears underneath it. If you try to add the word to the dictionary, the computer blows up.

The backdrop of the action is Washington DC, which like Los Angeles is a place where everything is a two minute walk or drive away, and even the most secure institutions such as the FBI or the Secret Service may not be as impregnable as we think. It's really amazing that this country has somehow stayed together considering that every agency employs a staggering number of traitors. And it also turns out that all government workers (who aren't traitors) fit into three categories: 1.) very disgruntled 2.) exceedingly sassy 3.) or endearingly earnest up until the point where you find out that they're sleeping with their boss.

Former hero turned villain who is probably actually a hero that could potentially be a secret villain, Tony Almeida, is Jack's main nemesis on this day. We saw Tony tragically die two seasons ago, so seeing him as a prominent character in the season premiere is a little unclear and somewhat jarring, but he did not receive a "silent clock" in his death episode two seasons ago, so the fact is that he did not die. Jack is stunned to hear that Tony is alive, even though he himself was able to not just fake his death, but actually die and come back to life not once, but twice.

The previous paragraph only makes sense if you've watched 24 for the past six seasons.

There is also a new commander-in-chief, President Taylor, the first female to hold the highest office in the land. Not only does she have to deal with an invasion of an unnamed African nation, and a very insubordinate Cabinet officer, her son recently committed suicide. This has been verified by medical experts, much like Tony's death was verified by medical experts, but her husband doesn't buy that story though, and is obsessed with proving that their son was murdered for nefarious reasons involving Cayman Island bank accounts. Considering that the First Gentleman is being protected by one Secret Service agent who looks like he just graduated Junior High, I'd say that there's a good chance that Mr. Taylor is correct. The Secret Service gives the First Family less protection than a condom from a dive bar bathroom on this show.

There's also an HDTV in the Oval Office that only plays the Presidential seal. Just the Presidential Seal. If you want to watch what the President of the United States watches in the Oval Office, I think it's channel 572 on Direct TV. You could watch the Presidential Seal do all sorts of exciting things like lay against a blue background. Or maybe start a new relationship with that dangerously exotic Secretary of State seal. I really hope they make it. I don't think that Secretary of the Interior seal is right for the Presidential seal.

Yes, this season for 24 is turning out to be one of the best yet. My prediction is that there will be some sort of bomb involved and Jack will ask politely where to find it.